Ring spinner



0. KGNIG RING SPINNER May 12, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1963 Jnvenfor: 05 KA R KONIG Sir e firchael S )flgg w 0. KGNIG RING SPINNER May 12, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 Jnvepfor: OSKAR KONIG Zw/vaez s. awe- United States Patent ()fificc 3,132,467 Patented May 12, 1964 3,132,467 RING SPINNER Oskar Kiinig, Kluepfelstrasse 6, Stuttgart, Germany Filed Jan. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 254,162 Claims priority, application Germany Jan. 31, 1962 9 Claims. (40]. 57-119) The present invention relates to yarn spinning or twisting apparatus, and more particularly to ring spinners wherein a ring traveler sliding along a spinning ring regulates the twist, the distribution and the tension of yarn on a revolving bobbin. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in ring travelers and in spinning rings of such apparatus.

In conventional ring spinners of which I have knowledge at this time, the ring traveler is mounted rather loosely on the associated spinning ring to insure that it can travel freely when the spindle of the bobbin rotates. However, such loose mounting permits undesirable vibrations of the ring traveler which leads to excessive heating and results in excessive wear on the faces of the spinning ring and on such portions of the traveler which come into actual contact with the ring.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to provide an improved ring spinner wherein undesirable vibration of the ring traveler with respect to the spinning ring is reduced or eliminated in a very simple and efficient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ring spinner of the just outlined characteristics wherein the temperature of the traveler produced by the frictional heat between the ring traveler and the spinning ring is reduced to a minimum and wherein the wear on the ring traveler and on the cooperating faces of the spinning ring is much less than in conventional ring spinners.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel spinning ring for use in ring spinners of the above outlined characteristics.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel ring traveler for use in ring spinners of the above outlined characteristics.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the provision of a ring spinner which comprises a stationary spinning ring having an annular inner face and at least one annular end face which is inclined at an angle of 90-180 degrees with reference to the inner face, and a substantially hoop-shaped ring traveler slidably mounted for travel about the axis of the ring and having portions in contact with the inner face and with at least one end face of the ring.

The angle between the inner face and the end face or faces of the ring is normally 93-110 degrees, and that portion of the ring traveler which is adjacent to the inner face of the ring preferably comprises at least one stabilizing projection extending in the circumferential direction of and engaging the inner face of the ring at a point which is laterally spaced from the central portion. The ring traveler may be made of wire having a circular cross section or it may consist of fiat strip stock.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The ring spinner itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

' FIG. 1 is an axial section through a ring spinner which embodies one form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary axial section through the spinning ring of the structure shown in FIG.

2 1, further showing the manner in mounted on the spinning ring;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary axial section through a modified spinning ring which cooperates with a ring traveler similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary axial section through another spinning ring;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary axial section through a fourth spinning ring;

FIG. 5b is a fragmentary axial section through a fifth spinning ring;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary axial section through the spinning ring of FIGS. 1 and 2, further showing the manner in which the ring traveler engages a yarn;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 6, the view of FIG. 7 being taken from the righthand side of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a traveler which consists of wire stock and whose stabilizing projection or bend is slightly different from the projection of the ring travelers shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a ring traveler which consists of flat strip stock and which comprises a single hook-shaped stabiliing projection;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modified ring traveler Whose central portion comprises two stabilizing projections extending from the opposite sides thereof;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a different ring traveler whose central portion again comprises two stabilizing projections which extend from the same side thereof; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an additional ring traveler which comprises a single stabilizing projection in the form of a bend.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a ring spinner comprising a spindlelil for a bobbin 11. This spindle is driven by a known mechanism, not shown, and passes through the opening of a stationary spinning ring 12 which is mounted in a fixed support 13. The ring 12, supports a specially constructed ring traveler 14 which is arranged to slide along certain faces and about the axis of the ring to thereby regulate the twist, the distribution and the tension of yarn that is being wound onto the bobbin 11. The spinning ring 12 surrounds the bobbin, and the manner in which the ring traveler 14 engages the yarn 37 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIGS. 2 and 6 to 8 illustrate ingreater detail the construction of the spinning ring 12 and of the cooperating ring traveler 14. The ring 12 is provided with an annular concave inner face 24 which is of spherical shape and whose center of curvature M is located on the axis aa of the ring 12. It will be noted that the center M is located substantially or exactly midway between the axial ends of the inner face 24.

The spinning ring 12 is further provided with two annular end faces including an upper end face 26 and a lower end face 27. These end faces are inclined at an angle of 180 degrees, preferably 93-110 degrees, with reference to the inner face 24, and each of these end faces resembles the frustum of a cone whose vertex is located in the center M In other words, the end faces 26, 27 are inclined with respect to each other and diverage outwardly from the respective circles of intersection with the inner face 24. The upper end face 26 diverges upwardly and outwardly, as seen in FIGS. 2, 6 or 7, and the lower end face 27 diverges outwardly and downwardly.

The ring traveler 14 resembles a bail and comprises a central portion or web 30 and two end portions or legs 31, 32 which are respectively integral with the upper and which a ring traveler is amass? lower ends of the central portion. The free ends or tips of the end portions 31, 32 are bent toward each other to engage the outer face of the spinning ring 12 and to thus prevent radial movements of the traveler. It will be noted that FIGS. l-3 and 6-8 show the ring travelers as being spaced from (i.e., out of contact with) the faces of the respective spinning rings. This was done merely for the sake of clarity. In actual operation of the ring spinner, the traveler is permanently in at least 2-point contact with the respective spinning ring. As is evident from FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the travelers shown therein have inner surface portions adjacent the inner annular face of the respective spinning ring matching the aforementioned face at least in the axial direction, i.e., the inner surface portions being similar to the shape of the annular face of the respective spinning ring.

The traveler 14 further comprises a stabilizing projection 35 which forms part of the central portion 30 and which extends laterally from this central portion, as seen in the circumferential direction of the ring 12, to engage the inner face 24 at a point distant from the central portion 30. As best shown in FIG. 7, the projection 35 is an L-shaped bend in the central portion 38, and the entire traveler consists of a length of wire-like metallic or plastic material of circular cross section. The projection 35 extends along a substantial part of the central portion 30 and its length, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the portion 30, may approximate the axial length of the inner face 24. In fact, the arrangement may be such that the entire central portion 30 constitutes a single projection 35 or that this portion comprises a series of projections which extend from the one to the other end thereof. The longitudinal direction of the central portion 30 is indicated by a line b--b, see FIG. 7, and it will be noted that the projection 35 extends laterally of this line and in the circumferential direction of the ring 12. Consequently, by abutting against the inner face 24, the projection 35 is in a position to limit or to eliminate vibrations of the traveler 14 about the line b-b and to thereby reduce the wear on the traveler and on the inner face of the ring. The projection 35 also eliminates or limits vibrations of the traveler 14 in the radial and axial directions of the ring 12, this being due to the concavity of the inner face 24.

The inclination of the central portion 30 (line b-b in FIG. 7) with respect to the axis of the spinning ring 12 is due mainly to the fact that the yarn 37 exerts a pull or drag on the ring traveler. By suitable configuration of the projection 35, the inclination of the central portion 30 may be determined in advance. It will be noted that the central portion 30 of the ring traveler 14 may define a small eye or loop for the yarn 37. In FIGS. 6-8, this eye is shown at the junction of the central portion 30 with the end portion 31.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified bail-shaped ring traveler which again consists of wire-like metallic or plastic material and which comprises a central portion 40 and two end portions 42, 43. The central portion 40 comprises a stabilizing projection 41 which is obtained by bending the median zoneof this central portion over itself and into a plane which is inclined at right angles with reference to the common plane of the end portions 42, 43. The projection 41 is located substantially midway between the end portions 42, 43.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a modified ring traveler which consists of flat metallic or plastic strip stock. For example, the traveler may be made of nylon or of similar synthetic plastic material. The end portions 47, 48 are integral with the opposite ends of the central portion 45, and this central portion is provided with a nose-like stabilizing projection or hook 46 which engages the inner face of a spinning ring when the traveler of FIG. is put to actual use. It Will be noted that the width of the end portion 48 exceeds the width of the end portion 47, and that the width of the end zones of the central portion 50 is the same as the width of the respective end portions.

The ring traveler of FIG. 11 is very similar to the one shown in FIG. 10, excepting that its central portion 50 comprises two stabilizing projections 54, which extend from the opposite sides thereof and each of which may engage the inner face of a spinning ring. The ends of the central portion 5d are integral with two end portions 51, 52, and the two stabilizing projections 54, 55 are of identical configuration. Of course, it is not always necessary to form the entire ring traveler of a single blank; for example, the stabilizing projection 46 or the projections 54, 55 may be connected to the respective central portion by welding, by soldering or in another suitable Way.

In the ring traveler of FIG. 12 which consists of flat strip stock and which comprises a central portion and two end portions or legs 61, 62, the central portion includes two integral stabilizing projections 64, which extend from the same side thereof. It will be noted that the length of the projection 65 exceeds the length of the projection 64 and that these projections are integral with the end Zones of the central portion. The ring traveler of FIGS. 11 or 12 is even more suitedto eliminate vibrations about an axis which coincides with the longitudinal extension of the respective central portion.

FIG. 13 shows a further ring traveler which includes a central portion and two end portions 72, 73. The central portion 70 is formed with a bend 71 which constitutes a stabilizing projection and which engages the inner face of the spinning ring on which the traveler is mounted. This traveler is analogous to the ring travelers shown in FIGS. 6 to 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a modified spinning ring which is formed with an annular inner face 81, an annular upper end face 82, and an annular lower end face 82. The end faces 82, 83 are frusta of two cones whose vertices are located in -a point M on the axis a-a of the ring 80. The inner face 81 forms part of a sphere whose center is located in the point M The point M is spaced from the center M of the ring 80 through a distance 0, i.e., the point M is located on the axis aa but on a part of this axis which extends beyond one end face of the ring 80. In other words, the inner face 81 of the ring 80 is spaced from the equatorial plane of the spherical surface of which this inner face forms an annular section.

The ring traveler 86 which cooperates with the spinning ring 80 of FIG. 3 is similar to the traveler 14. Its central portion 87 comprises a stabilizing projection or bend, similar to the projection 35, which engages the inner face 81. This ring traveler 86 further comprises two end portions 85, 88 which are respectively adjacent to the end faces 82, 83 and which cooperate with the stabilizing projection of the central portion 87 to prevent or to limit axial displacements of the traveler with respect to the spinning ring 80. I have found that the specific construction of the traveler 8'6 and the specific configuration of the faces 81-83 on the ring 80 insure that the heating and the wear on these parts are much less pronounced than in conventional ring spinners which are known to me at this time.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a different spinning ring 90 which is provided with a composite annular inner face 91 and with two end faces whose inclination with reference to the inner face is more than 90 but less than In this embodiment of the spinning ring, the upper end face is actually formed by the exposed end face of an annulus 92 which is recessed in one axial end of the spinning ring 90 and which may consist of sinter metal or a similar wear-resistant material.

The inner face 91 consists of several concave annular sections of different curvature. The radius r of curvature of the median section which extends through an angle a passes through a point M which is located on the axis a-a of the spinning ring 90 and which is dis posed midway between the axial ends of the inner face 91. The curvature of the upper annular section of the inner face 91 which extends through an angle ,6 (see the radius r is greater than the curvature of the median section (radius rs), and the same applies for the lower annular section of this inner face which extends through an angle 7 (radius r In the embodiment of FIG. 4, 8:7 and r =r but it is equally possible to form the spinning ring 90 with an inner face wherein the axial length of one outer section exceeds the axial length of the other outer section.

If the curvature of the median section (radius r is less than the curvature of the end sections (radii r and and r and if a stabilizing projection of the traveler engages such median section, the traveler is held against undesirable axial movements with respect to the spinning ring.

FIG. a shows a spinning ring 100 which comprises an inner annular face 101 and a single annular end face 102.

Both faces are of conical shape and are inclined with respect to each other at an angle 45 which exceeds 90 The vertex of a cone of which the end face 102 forms a frustum is indicated by the reference character M and it will be noted that this vertex is located on the axis a-a of the spinning ring 100.

I have found that the angle 4: is preferably more than 93 but less than 110. 'I'llis angle may be calculated by resorting to the equation =90+arc sin wherein H is the axial length of the inner face 101 and wherein R is the radius of the circle along which the inner face 101 (or an imaginary extension of this inner face) intersects (the imaginary extension of) the end face 102. It will be noted that the axial length of the inner face 101 is measured from a plane which is perpendicular to the axis a-a and which touches the lower end of this inner face to a second plane passing through the circle along which the face 101 or its imaginary extension intersects the end face 102 or an imaginary extension of this end face. By relying on the about equation, I provide a spinning ring which cooperates with a suitable ring traveler to insure that the traveler is properly guided on the ring 100 and that it can travel its endless path around the axis of the ring 100 with minimal temperature. Such advantageous cooperation between the spinning ring and its traveler is due to the above described selection of the angle 3. Of course, when the inner face is of spherical shape (FIGS. 2-4), the generatrix of one or both end faces preferably passes through the center of the spherical surface of which the inner face forms a part or through the center of the median section of such inner face (i.e., of that section (radius r in FIG. 4) whose configuration comes nearest to a portion of a spherical surface.

FIG. 5b shows a portion of a spinning ring which is formed with an annular end face 112 of conical shape and with an annular inner face 111 which is of convex shape. The phantom line 116 indicates a portion of a spherical surface whose curvature is nearest to the curvature of the inner face 11d, and the center 115 of this spherical surface coincides with the vertex of a cone of which the end face 112 forms a frustum. Thus, regardless of whether the inner face is of concave straight or convex outline, the center of a phantom sperical surface whose curvature is nearest to or identical with the curvature of such inner face should preferably coincide with the vertex of a cone of which at least one of the end faces forms a frustum. Such arrangement is particularly advantageous when the shape of the inner face is insufficient to provide proper guidance for and or to stabilize the traveler.

The exact position of the stabilizing projection or projections with respect to the end portions of the ring traveler depends on the configuration of the faces on the cooperating spinning ring. Thus, and as shown in FIG. 11, the projections may be integral with the median zone of the central portion 50 or, and as shown in FIG. 12, the projections 64, 65 may be nearer to the end zones of the central portion 60. The number of stabilizing projections may be such that they extend from the one to the other end of the central portion, or the length of a single projection may approximate the length of the central portion.

The spinning ring may be made of metal (e.g., sinter metal) or of synthetic plastic material.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ring spinner, in combination, a stationary ring having an annular inner face and an annular end face, said faces being inclined at an angle of more than but less than degrees with reference to each other and at least a portion of said inner face at least approximating a hol- Iow sphere whose center is located on the axis of said ring, the generatrix of said end face being a line extending radially from said center; and a substantially bailshaped ring traveler slidably mounted on and arranged to travel about the axis of said ring, said traveler having inner surface portions in contact with said faces, the inner surface portion of said traveler adjacent said annular inner face matching said face at least in the axial direction and being in engagement therewith.

2. In a ring spinner, in combination, a stationary spinning ring having an annular inner face and at least one annular end face which is inclined at an angle of more than 90 but less than 180 degrees with reference to said inner face, said end face constituting the frustum of a cone whose vertex is located on the axis of said ring and said inner face comprises at least one spherical section whose center of curvature coincides with the vertex of said cone; and a substantially bail-shaped ring traveler slidably mounted on and arranged to travel about the axis of said ring, said traveler having a central portion adjacent to said inner face and an end portion adjacent to and engaging said end face, said central portion having at least one stabilizing projection extending in the circumferential direction of said ring and engaging said inner face.

3. In a ring spinner, in combination, a stationary spinning ring having an annular inner face comprising a plurality of annular concave sections including a median section whose curvature is less than the'curvature of the other sections, and at least one annular end face which is inclined at an angle of more than 90 but less than 180 degrees with reference to said inner face; and a substantially bail-shaped ring traveler slidably mounted on and arranged to travel about the axis of said ring, said traveler having a central portion adjacent to said inner face and an end portion adjacent to and engaging said end face, said central portion having at least one stabilizing projection extending in the circumferential direction of said ring and engaging said inner face.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein said median section is of spherical shape.

5. In a ring spinner, in combination, a stationary spinning ring having an annular inner face and at least one annular end face which is inclined at an angle of 90-180 degrees with reference to said inner face; and a substantially bail-shaped ring traveler slidably mounted on and arranged to travel about the axis of said ring, said traveler having a central portion adjacent to said inner face and an end portion adjacent to and engaging said end face, said central portion having a plurality of stabilizing projections each extending in the circumferential direction of said ring and engaging said inner face, said projections including a first and a second projection respectively extending from the opposite sides of said central portion.

6. In a ring spinner, in combination, a stationary ring having an annular inner face and an annular end face, said faces being inclined at an angle of more than 90 but less than 180 degrees with reference to each other and said end face constituting the frustum of a cone Whose vertex is located on the axis of said ring, said inner face comprising at least one spherical section whose center of curvature coincides with the vertex of said cone; and a substantially bail-shaped ring traveler slidably mounted on and arranged to travel about the axis of said ring, said traveler having portions in contact with said faces.

7. In a ring spinner, in combination, a stationary ring having an annular inner face and an annular end face, said faces being inclined at an angle of more than 90 but less than 180 degrees with reference to each other and said end face constituting the frustum of a cone Whose vertex is located on the axis of said ring and substantially midway between the axial ends of said inner face; and a substantially bail-shaped ring traveler slidably mounted on and arranged to travel about the axis of said ring, said traveler having portions in contact with said faces.

8. In a ring spinner, in combination, a stationary spinning ring having an annular inner face and at least one annular end face of frustoconical shape, said end face being inclined at an angle of more than 90 but less than 180 degrees with reference to said inner face; and a substantially bail-shaped ring traveler slidably mounted on and arranged to travel about the axis of said ring,

said traveler consisting of fiat strip stock and having portions in contact with said faces, that portion of said traveler which is in contact with said inner face comprising a plurality of stabilizing projections which extend from said last mentioned portion in the circumferential direction of said ring and engaging said inner face.

9. In a ring spinner, in combination, a stationary spinning ring having an annular inner face and at least one annular end face of frustoconical shape, said end face being inclined at an angle of more than but less than degrees with reference to said inner face; and a substantially bail-shaped ring traveler slidably mounted on and arranged to travel about the axis of said ring, said traveler consisting of flat strip stock and having portions in contact with said faces, that portion of said traveler which is in contact with said inner face comprising stabilizing projections extending from opposite sides of said last mentioned portion in the circumferential direction of said ring and engaging said inner face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,495,636 Feaster May 27, 1924 1,846,725 Hull Feb. 23, 1932 2,132,260 Fillinger Oct. 4, 1938 2,718,748 Colbeck et al Sept. 27, 1955 2,796,727 Katerman June 25, 1957 2,924,066 Ragan Feb. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,249,320 France Nov. 21, 1960 13,872 Great Britain of 1890 547,003 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1942 766,697 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1957 

7. IN A RING SPINNER, IN COMBINATION, A STATIONARY RING HAVING AN ANNULAR INNER FACE AND AN ANNULAR END FACE, SAID FACES BEING INCLINED AT AN ANGLE OF MORE THAN 90 BUT LESS THAN 180 DEGREES WITH REFERENCE TO EACH OTHER AND SAID END FACE CONSTITUTING THE FRUSTRUM OF A CORE WHOSE VERTEX IS LOCATED ON THE AXIS OF SAID RING AND SUBSTANTIALLY 